Issue No. 356 01 August 2008

Care needed when slow-steaming
Slow-steaming vessels should be particularly careful when using blended fuels with a maximum1.5% sulphur content according to DNV Petroleum Services. Such products are often associated with poor ignition and combustion, stability problems, excessive catalytic fines (aluminium and silicon) and chemical contamination. Some naturally occurring low sulphur fuels, such as those from South America, may contain high aromatic content that causes ignition and combustion quality to be poor. DNV notes that the success of slow-steaming is highly dependant on training and the experience of ship staff. In particular the vintage and design / type of engine will determine how much or how little needs to be considered in the way of modification for re-optimising at reduced power. Close attention must be paid to engine temperatures and pressures, fuel treatment and the set-up of separators according to the required flow rates. Slow-steaming fuel nozzles may also have to be fitted to achieve improved atomisation at lower powers, along with adjustment of cylinder lubrication rates and regular piston and ring inspections. Crew must keep soot deposits from accumulating at turbochargers. Fouling of the economisers must be prevented as this heightens the risk of explosion and fires.

Anchoring off Australian ports
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued Marine Notice 12/2008, Anchoring off Australian Ports, the purpose of which is to remind Masters of the precautions to be taken when it is decided to anchor off Australian ports. A copy of the Marine Notice can be found at: www.amsa.gov.au/Shipping_Safety/Marine_Notices/2008/1208.pdf

Emissions from ships in California
Lloyd’s List reports that the State of California is proceeding with unilateral rules on the maximum level of sulphur in marine fuel, despite court rulings that the regulations are pre-empted by two Federal Statutes. (See BNS Issue 333, 13 September 2007 for background information.) In a statement released at the end of July the California Air Resources Board (CARB) said it would require US and foreign flag ships to burn 1.5% marine oil or 0.5% marine gas oil in auxiliary engines. From July 2009, the same requirements will apply to main engines and auxiliary boilers. These rules will apply until 2012, at which time the state will stipulate a maximum sulphur content of 0.1% within 25nm of California’s coast. CARB has revived plans unilaterally, this time arguing that the fuel requirement is an “in-use” regulation on fuel rather than an attempt to manage the air pollution emissions themselves. The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) which twice appealed against the regulation’s legality, has described the justification used by CARB for introducing the limits as ”astounding, contradictory and inconsistent”. CARB has indicated that the regulations would be superseded by the implementation of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) MARPOL Annex VI requirements, expected in January 2015. Mary Nichols of CARB was unrepentant over the introduction of the regulations, stating; “This regulation will save lives. At ports and all along the Californian coast we will see cleaner air and better health.” The PMSA noted that the regulations must now be submitted to the Californian Office of Administrative Law, for review, the process is expected to extend well into next year.


IMO designates new “Special Areas”
Special Areas in which the discharge of waste from ships is prohibited took effect in the “Gulfs area” and off Southern South Africa on 1 August 2008, providing extra protection from pollution from shipping in those areas under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Whilst the “Gulfs area” was established as a special area in 1973, when MARPOL was adopted, the discharge requirements contained therein could not take effect until states in the area had ratified the convention and provided adequate reception facilities. This has now been achieved and all the states in the “Gulfs area” have now ratified MARPOL and have provided adequate reception and treatment facilities for Annex I and Annex V ship generated waste in ports, terminals and ship repair ports in the area. The Southern South African Waters Special Area under MARPOL Annex I was adopted as an amendment to MARPOL in 2006 and an MEPC resolution was adopted in 2007 which established 1 August 2008 as the date on which the discharge requirements would take effect. South Africa has confirmed that adequate reception facilities for oily waste from ships have been provided in all major ports within the Special Area. A copy of the IMO briefing note which includes the exact designation of the “Gulfs area” and Southern South African waters can be found at: www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1709&doc_id=9919

Port State Control Detention rates increase
Lloyd’s List reports that Port State Control Detention rates have begun to rise again after several years of decline, according to figures compiled by the Paris MOU. Paris MOU officials point to several possible reasons for this increase, such as growing demand for tonnage worldwide and the widely reported difficulties of shipowners in finding well qualified, experienced seafarers. “In the coming years the Paris MOU cannot afford itself any complacency and will need to focus its efforts more on those ships, shipowners, flag states and Recognised Organisations (ROs) that operate on the margins of what is legally acceptable,” said the Paris MOU statement issued in advance of its 2007 Annual Report. See: www.parismou.org/ParisMOU/Whats+New/News/News+Detail/xp/selectedcontentitem.2878/default.aspx

During 2007, 14 ships were banned. Of these, 12 were flying a “black listed flag” at the time of the ban. “Detention percentages for bulk carriers have been rising for the past 3 years, which is not surprising taking [into account] the aging record of this ship type. Hopefully, this will not result in major casualties in the coming years.” The Paris MOU Annual Report for 2007 was due to be available on their website during July.